Melinda French Gates has left no doubt … she was appalled at Bill Gates‘ friendship with Jeffrey Epstein, whom she described as “evil personified.”

Melinda told Gayle King Thursday on “CBS Mornings” … Bill’s relationship with Epstein was definitely a factor in their divorce. You gotta hear the way she describes that relationship — the disgust in her voice is loud and clear.

Melinda said, “I did not like that he had meetings with Jeffrey Epstein, no. I made that clear to him.”

She also tells King she met him a grand total of one time, and it creeped her out … “I wanted to see who this man was and I regretted it from the second I stepped in the door … he was evil personified. I had nightmares about it afterward.”

She says her heart breaks for the young women who suffered at the hands of Epstein …  and she says she made her feelings very clear to Bill.

Melinda makes it clear there are still hard feelings between her and Bill … she says they have a working relationship but are not “friends.”

TMZ broke the story … when they initially planned on announcing the divorce in March 2021, Melinda and their kids went to a private island, anticipating a media onslaught — and Bill was not invited. The family was furious at him … we’re told largely because of his alleged relationships with other women.